Cape Town – The local sporting community, family and friends came out in huge numbers to pay their last respects at the janaazah of former Western Province and City and Suburban hooker Sadick “Dickie” Galant on Wednesday evening.
Galant (69) was laid to rest at Klip Road Cemetery situated directly opposite his house in Grassy Park.
“Dickie Boy” as he was affectionately known grew up in Claremont where he attended Talfalah Primary and Livingstone High School.
His father “Boeta Moosie” was one of the group that helped former Violets members who moved from the Green Point Track-based WP Union to join Primrose, a City and Suburban-based club established in 1896, that had been on the verge of going defunct.
So, it was inevitable that Dickie and his older brother, Moegsien, would also play their junior rugby for Primrose.
During high school at Livingstone, Dickie made the WP Schools rugby team. It was on this WP Schools team in 1972 that Dickie first met Riyaadh “Arab” Najaar who attended Harold Cressy High School.
The two would not only become life-long friends but they were also team-mates throughout their rugby careers.
Upon matriculating from Livingstone, Dickie enrolled at Hewat Teachers Training College and was obliged to play rugby for Hewat instead of his club, Primrose.
Riyaadh and Dickie played as team-mates for Hewat and both would earn their City and Suburban call-ups as forwards from there onwards. With Dickie at hooker and Riyaadh at lock respectively, they formed a formidable combination representing Cities on numerous occasions.
“Yes, something that stood out for me about Dickie was his loyalty and commitment to our friendship,” Najaar said nostalgically.
“He would break every bone in his body to ensure that he pleases his friends. He would do anything for you. It was a relationship we shared right until the end. I was fortunate to spend the last week of his life together when he was in hospital and when he came home.
“In our young days we were together seven days a week and 365 days a year because of our studies, our rugby training and matches.
“I remember us studying afternoon classes at UWC where only the two of us would train alone. Him being the hooker and I being the lock we worked on tactics and becoming a formidable combination second to none in terms of our lineout prowess.
“Dickie was always a cheerful person loved by everyone he came into contact with. He was always the life of the party.
“He convinced me to come to Violets and I think that was a good decision because Violets became a force in the few years that they played in Western Province.
“He really valued his family, his children and always protected them with his life to ensure that each one of them receive a good education. He was always very well supported by his wife Rogaya. They actually met at my 21st birthday.
“So, I can really attest to a great friend, a committed educationist and just as committed in his rugby prowess as a hooker. I value and rate him as one of the best hookers I played with.”
The 1980’s were the halcyon days for Primroses in the City and Suburban Union where Dickie was part of a formidable team alongside his brother Moegsien “Boeta” and others such as Saait Magiet, Shreef Abass, Zaheer Adams, Paul Leo and Nazeem Smith to name but a few.
In 1982 Dickie had the honour of representing the President’s XV against a South African Rugby Union (Saru) team.
Primrose won the Commando Cup in 1979, 1981 and 1984, the Diamond Cup (Grand Challenge) in 1981 and 1983 as well as the League in 1983 and 1985 Photo: Supplied
As sport moved towards unification in the ‘90s, Dickie and his brother would leave Primrose to revive Violets Rugby Club to join the WPRFU (based at Green Point Track) in 1988.
Although Dickie was in the twilight of his rugby career by then, he was still good enough to earn a few caps for WP at hooker largely due to his on-field leadership and his keen knowledge of rugby tactics.
During his time at Violets, he spent his energy on club administration and coaching.
Dickie will be remembered for his astute leadership abilities, his tactical acumen and a captain who led from the front.
Besides being an exceptional sportsman and administrator, Dickie also had a great academic career who was a specialist in Early Childhood Development.
“That was his passion and his niche. He brought across his facts always in a jovial presentation and everyone loved sitting in his lectures especially his students at Sally Davis.
“He was also sent to further his studies in England. When he came back he was probably one of the best qualified early childhood development lecturers in South Africa if I may say so.
“So, yes we shared many fond memories, some of which I cannot share in an open forum,” added Najaar.
He lectured at Sally Davies Pre-Primary College in Crawford, before taking up a position as Deputy Education Specialist with the Western Cape Education Department.
Many of his former colleagues formed a guard of honour as he was carried out of his home to the Victoria Road Mosque in Grassy Park.
The mosque in Victoria Road Grassy Park was filled to capacity at the janaazah of Sadick Galant Photo’s: Riyaadh Najaar
Dickie is survived by his wife Rogaya, and his three sons Riaz, Musah and Mikhaeel.
